COOPERATIVE KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY HELPFUL INFO
Information about the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program 2020
Thomas Trivette, Extension Associate Dr. Oliver Freeman, Assistant Extension Professor of Agronomy and Vegetable Production
According to the University of Kentucky's Center for Crop Diversity, the state of Kentucky leads our nation in the production of sweet sorghum syrup and along with regional neighboring states produce 90% of domestic sorghum syrup in the USA. Sweet sorghum syrup produced in Kentucky in 2008 was worth upwards of $12,000,000.
[1] Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension Program seeks to provide a solution to the limited resources of small-scale farmers starting sorghum production in Kentucky as a part of our strategic plan. Kentucky State University’s Center for Sustainability of Farms and Families (CSFF) can help small farmers develop alternative enterprises by reducing the startup costs of sorghum production.
Kentucky State University's (KSU) Sorghum Cane Crushing Mill was commercially engineered and manufactured to enable small farmers to efficiently maximize the processing of sorghum cane into sorghum juice used to cook into sweet sorghum syrup or other products. The mill has a 10-HP Gasoline Engine which powers a hydraulic system driving the three crushing rollers which are capable of crushing up to 1,325 lbs. (600 kgs) of sweet sorghum cane per hour according to the manufacturer (actual results may vary due to variety of sorghum, settings, and conditions). The KSU Mill Coordinator will deliver and